play for time

VERB

check

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrest control curb halt prevent reduce stop

STRONG

baffle bar bit bottleneck bridle checkmate choke circumvent constrain counteract delay discourage foil frustrate harness hold impede inhibit interrupt limit moderate neutralize obstruct obviate pause preclude rebuff repress repulse retard snub squelch stay suppress tame terminate thwart withhold

WEAK

cut short hold back hold down hold in keep back nip in the bud rein in slacken pace slow down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid allow assist continue encourage help let go

STRONG

abet advance approve facilitate forward free permit release

WEAK

expedite indulge liberate

VERB

procrastinate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dawdle hesitate

STRONG

dally drag lag linger loiter pause prolong protract stall stay tarry temporize wait

WEAK

be dilatory defer drag one's feet give the runaround goldbrick hang fire hold off let slide play a waiting game postpone shilly-shally suspend

Antonyms

STRONG

abbreviate advance carry out complete continue do expedite finish forge forward further go hasten help hurry leave persist push rush shorten

WEAK

accelerate go ahead quicken

VERB

stall

Synonyms

STRONGEST

halt hamper hinder interrupt postpone put off slow stay stop suspend

STRONG

arrest brake check die equivocate fence filibuster hedge prevaricate quibble stand still stonewall tarry temporize

WEAK

avoid the issue beat around the bush drag one's feet hold off not move shut down slow down stand off stand still take one's time

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance aid allow assist carry out continue do encourage expedite forward help permit promote push

WEAK

further

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Might they just want to play for time, see how LIV reacts as contracts with several of their initial crop of players begin to expire?

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, is known as a man who likes to play for time and postpone big decisions.

From New York Times • May 8, 2024

Androulakis dismissed Mitsotakis’ comments on Monday as a bid to play for time, saying the prime minister “methodically avoided providing explanations.”

From Washington Times • Aug. 8, 2022

Key strategies: play for time, allow others to take blame, and wait for popular opinion to solidify around solutions before backing them himself.

From Reuters • Aug. 2, 2022

All kinds of wonderful qualities needed in marriage may seem to be conspicuous in oneself chiefly by their absence, but one can always play for time.

From The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book by Bigelow, William F. (William Frederick)

play for time

Example Sentences

Related Words